Sunday, July 20, 2008
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Tracking Virginia’s General Assembly
since 2007.
HB309: Absentee voting; qualified voters may vote absentee without providing a reason.
Chief Patron
Del.
Al Eisenberg (D-47)
Al Eisenberg
(D-47)
Arlington, VA
Served: 2004–
Progress
 |
Introduced |
 |
Passed Committee |
 |
Passed House |
|
Passed Senate |
|
Signed by Governor |
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Became Law |
Status
02/12/2008: Failed to Pass in Committee
Summary
Elections; absentee voting. Provides that qualified voters may vote absentee in person without providing an excuse or reason for not being able to vote in person on election day. The bill retains the present statutory list of specific reasons entitling a voter to cast an absentee ballot for those persons who vote absentee by mail.
View Full Text »Video
Votes were cast on this bill on the following dates for which Richmond Sunlight has video: 02/12/2008.
Identical Bills
The following bills are identical to this one: SB8
Introduced: 2007-11-28
Status: In Committee
Introduced: 2007-12-21
Status: Failed to Pass in Committee
Poll Results
3 votes
Tags
Bill Text
Related Bills
Status: Failed to Pass in Committee
Status: signed by governor
Status: In Committee
Status: signed by governor
Status: Failed to Pass in Committee
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Comments
Excellent idea. It will encourage more people to vote, especially for those individuals who have long commutes. There are many reasons why people may not be able to vote on Election Day and as long as absentee voting is available in person or mail, then it should be offered to all, not a select few.
This is one of those warm fuzzy bills that will cost the localities much needed resources, for very little result.
Each locality would be responsible for the costs associated with additional equipment,staffing, administrating and holding a 45 day long election.
There are no financial supports in the bill.
Other states have shown that early voting DOES NOT increase overall turnout AND actually pulls voters AWAY from the polling place on election day. IOW the same people will vote, they just vote early.